Boric bids for big race double at Perth
● Waugh’s chaser has Highland National in his sights for the second year running
Last year’s hero Boric bids for back-to-back wins in the Heineken UK Highland National today on the final day of the Perth Festival.
Simon Waugh’s Northumberland raider, ridden by regular partner Callum Bewley, faces 11 rivals in the £25,000 marathon which is staged over 3m 6f at the Scone track.
Morpeth-based Waugh said of his stable star: “He’s absolutely fine and in good form. He didn’t like the ground in the Eider Chase at Newcastle as it was too gluey and tacky.
“Ideally he would prefer better ground but he does act on soft and gets on well with Callum. With a bit of luck and all being well he should run a big race.”
Among the opposition to Boric are Milborough, winner of the 2015 Eider Chase for Ayrshire trainer Ian Duncan, Sandy Thomson’s 2016 Scottish Borders National winner Harry The Viking, and recent Midlands Grand National third Ballymalin representing Nigel and Sam Twiston-davies.
Six runners line up for the T.B.A. Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase (Listed), at £35,000 the richest race ever staged at the course.
Top rated on a BHA mark of 139 is Rons Dream, a longdistance raider from Peter Bowen’s Haverfordwest yard in Wales and ridden by the trainer’s son James.
The same combination took the feature at Perth yesterday as Wadswick Court defied a 193-day absence to land the £30,000 All New Discovery River Tay Handicap Chase.
Peter Bowen, who has a healthy course strike-rate, said: “We were hoping to run him in the Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences at Aintree but he knocked a knee in his box in the build up to the race.”
After a double on Wednesday, trainer Nigel Twistondavies repeated the feat with Jamie Bargary-ridden pair, top-weight Ballyarthur in the MKM Building Supplies Balnakeilly Chase and Allthegear No Idea in the GS Group Scoonieburn Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Meanwhile, Addeybb looked a Group horse in disguise when romping to victory in the Lincoln at Doncaster and can confirm that impression by winning the bet365 Mile at Sandown today.
William Haggas has made no secret of how much he rates the Pivotal gelding and the horse’s talent was very much in evidence as he made a mockery of one of the most competitive handicaps in the calendar.
Always travelling strongly, he put the race to bed by showing a smart turn of foot in difficult conditions and went on to score in tremendous style with two decent performers, Lord Glitters and Mitchum Swagger, giving the form plenty of substance by filling the places.
Haggas nominated this Group Two as the next port of call straight after the Lincoln and Addeybb can make it mission accomplished.
Martyn Meade had the bet365 Classic Trial in mind for Chilean after the Iffraaj colt took the Group Three Prix de la Force at Longchamp earlier this month.
There is every reason to believe his plan can also come to fruition.
Winner of a Listed contest and sixth in the Racing Post Trophy, it would be no surprise to see Chilean in a Classic in the coming months as long as he continues to progress as he has been doing.
Fabricate, carrying the Queen’s colours, is worth supporting in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes after a convincing win in the Magnolia Stakes at Kempton on his seasonal return.
After an encouraging effort on her seasonal debut, East Coast Lady can step up to the plate in division two of the k8.com Handicap at Doncaster. William Stone’s inmate won her last two races in 2017 and suggested more success will come her way when she was fifth at Windsor last week.
Peter Bowen’s Lord Bryan can cope with a 10lb hike for a ten-length win at Hereford in his bid to follow up in the Dunraven Windows Handicap Chase at Chepstow.